Asian Military Review - November 2017

Volume 25/issue 7

november 2017 US$15

A s i a P a c i f i c ’ s L a r g e s t C i r c u la t e d D e f e n c e M a g a Z i n e

THAILAND’S ARMED FORCES SATCOM ON-THE-MOVE SOLDIER MODERNISATION

TRAINER AIRCRAFT AMPHIBIOUS AND LOGISTICAL VESSELS HELICOPTER UPGRADES STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

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| Asian Military Review |

Contents

NOVEMBER 2017 VOLUME 25 / ISSUE 7

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The military government in Thailand is running a robust equipment procurement programme, from tanks to submarines, but is it coordinated?

Front Cover Photo:

The Thai Air Force has several fast-jet types including Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs, Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs and Saab Gripen JAS 39C/Ds (pictured here).

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THAILAND’S SPENDING SPREE 30 38

SATCOM ON THE MOVE

AMPHIBIOUS SUSTAINED REACH

Andrew White looks into evidence of SATCOMs disruption, and what alternatives such as MANET might offer.

Dr Lee Willett examines the strategic significance of amphibious and logistical platforms.

KEEPING THEM FLYING AND EFFECTIVE Andrew Drwiega takes a look at a selection of recent rotorcraft upgrades.

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FACE-OFF, STEP BACK Beth Stevenson analyses the latest stand-off between China and India over Bhutan’s Doklam Plateau.

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COMBAT SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE SOLDIERS

MITTENS OR MASTERS, BLUE MAGPIES OR GOLDEN EAGLES?

Andrew White profiles how soldier system development is set to change not only the look but also the individual performance of troops on the battlefield.

David Oliver takes a look at the regional preferences when it comes to selecting a flight training aircraft.

Catch up on all the latest defence radio frequency news and analysis in Andrew Drwiega’s regular Pulse column.

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Editorial A QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP

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im Jong-un, the supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has revealed a worrying weakness in the established understanding of global state-on-state deterrence. He has shown that the leaders of the world’s great economic and military powers have all failed to deflect him to any degree away from his stated aim - becoming a nuclear power armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

President Trump’s fondness for rhetoric and tweeting has achieved nothing but to embolden Mr. Kim to push rapidly ahead with his missile testing programme, to fire missiles over Japan and on 3 September to conduct the biggest underground nuclear test to date.

Mr. Trump, who was so critical of ex-President Obama’s statement that the use of chemical weapons

by Syria was a “red line” for the United States, followed by no immediate military action, has himself been guilty of hollow threats. His tweet that Mr. Kim and his foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho “won’t be around much longer,” and statements that the US was “locked and loaded’ and that North Korea would be met with “fire and fury” were not only dangerous, but hugely inflammatory to a regime that is hallmarked by paranoia, unpredictability and a legendary lack of care for its own people.

Now, Mr. Trump is threatening to ‘decertify’ the current agreement with Iran brokered by exPresident Obama’s administration to restrict that country’s nuclear ambitions. Should that happen, will it send a message to Mr. Kim that a deal with the US can no longer be relied upon either?

The leader of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has equally been shown to have less influence on Mr. Kim than that country would have the world believe. China wants to keep this buffer state intact as it fears the future prospect of a unified Korea, friendly to the US, on its border.

Will Mr. Xi use the 19th National Congress during October (as this issue goes to press) to initiate a new strategy towards its crisis centric ally?

Russian president Vladimir Putin seems content to see both of his strategic advisories continue to show their impotence at finding a workable solution. Putin’s stance that sanctions do not work and that dialogue will lead to a de-escalation ignores the fact that there is no evidence that such a tactic has worked in the past, or would work in the future.

On 7 October, Mr. Trump tweeted that “Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid…Hasn’t worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, making fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!”

Strategic brinkmanship is never good. With existing US policy now being challenged by an unpredictable president, can China and Russia afford to let a ‘hot’ crisis drift unpredictably towards a barely imaginable conflict? If that does happen, there will be no winners.

Andrew Drwiega, Editor

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THAILAND’S SPENDING SPREE With the Thai government being controlled by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), in other words the military, spending on a range of hardware across all services has increased, a trend that looks set to continue.

by Andrew Drwiega and Dr Lee Willet

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| Asian Military Review |

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he 22 May 2014 coup by the Royal Thai Armed Forces, led

by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Commander of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), not only gave the military authority over the whole country, it also gave them full contol over their own budget.

Since 2016, the new military government has placed additional focus on the procurement of armoured vehicles, helicopters and frigates to counter southern insurgency and strengthen its current military units.

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SHAUN C CONNORS

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The modernisation of a Royal Thai Navy Cadillac Gage V-150 by Panus Assembly may lead to the company receiving a contract to transform the entire fleet of 24 vehicles to the new HMV-150 standard.

On 27 February this year, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence launched its 10year military development programme entitled Modernisation Plan: Vision 2026. It lays down three objectives: improve preparedness; enhance military capabilities; and finally modernise its structure.

However, defence commentators have highlighted the observation that there appears to be an unclear strategy in terms of coordinating equipment types and linking acquisition to strategic requirement. One aspect that is clear, is the continuation of the campagin to defeating the ongoing insurgency in the south of the country near the border with Malaysia.

Thailand has endured a longburning insurgency in the south, largely personified by Pattani separatists, since the last century, but this became more active and violent after the millenium.

Although largely contained in three provinces (Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat) bordering Malaysia, incidents have also occured outside of this area around Thailand. More recently in May three pipe bombings occured in serveral areas of Bangkok, including a military hospital.

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Financially, the Modernisation Plan sets out to increase existing defence spending which is around 1.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 2 percent of GDP by 2020. In 2018, the defence budget is predicted to be close to 1.5 percent of GDP which is in the region of $6 billion.

The US Department of Commerce’s export.gov website reveals that “an estimated 48 percent of the defense budget is assigned to the Royal Thai Army, another 19 percent is given to the Royal Thai Navy and 18 percent is for the Royal Thai Air Force.”

The Royal Thai Army It was reported by the Interfax-Ukraine agency that the Royal Thai Army has already accepted at least five batches of Oplot-T modernised main battle tanks (MBT) supplied by the Morozov Design Bureau and built at the Ukranian Malyshev Plant in Kharkiv. A derivative of the Soviet era T-80 tank, a standard weapons configuration would include a KBA-3 125mm smoothbore gun, a KT-7.62 (PKT) coaxial machine gun and a KT-12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun. Ammuntion types avialalbe include high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG), armour-

| Asian Military Review |

piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot (APFSDS), high explosive anti tank (HEAT) and gun mount (GM) rounds.

The Thai Army requirement is for at least 49 Oplot-T MBTs. As deliveries have been slow due to Ukraine’s ongoing battle with the Russian backed insurgency in Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, this perhaps explains why the Thai Army has now turned to China for a quicker procurement of additional Chinese made VT-4 tanks (previously MBT3000) built by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco).

Like the Oplot-T, the VT-4 has a 125mm smoothbore cannon which can also fire high explosive squash head (HESH) rounds as well as APFSDS, HEAT and HE rounds. General Chalermchai Sitthisart, Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Army, revealed on 11 October that around 28 or the expected total order of 38 VT-4s would be delivered by the end of the year. The order was stated to be $148 million (Bt4.9 billion).

At the same briefing with media, General Chalermchai also said that Thailand would buy 34 VN-1 armoured cars from China with an order value of $68 million (Bt 2.3 billion). He said that

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Bell Helicopter would like the Royal Thai Army to keep using its Cobra attack helicopters through the acquisition of the latest AH-1Z Viper.

Thailand’s buying decisions were not a matter of alliances, but that the tanks and vehicles represented a more cost-effective option for the country.

Indigenous industry is also being involved in the modernisation process.

Panus Assembly, an mainly automotive company based in Panusnikom province has rebuilt and modernised a Cadillac Gage V-150 4x4 light armoured vehicle (LAV) for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).

This vehicle was originally designed as an amphibious armoured car. The 16 ton vehicle, previously damaged during an insurgent operation, has had numerous improvements added to it. These include thicker armour on the underside which has been increased to 16mm, and 12mm armour on the sides and upper surfaces.

There is also a new 8.9 litre Cummins ISL Euro 3 350 hp engine giving a top speed of around 110 km/h. The automatic transmission has been upgraded to an Allison 4500 with six gears.

The vehicle has been redesignated as an HMV-150, and the company hopes that

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the RTN will be sufficiently impressed by the improvement made that it will want the other 24 V-150s to be similarly modified.

The Thai Army is also looking to upgrade its attack and utility helicopter fleets. While no decision has been announced regarding the attack helicopters, Bell Helicopter has been particularly keen to offer its AH-1Z Cobra which is currently replacing its predecessor, the AH-1W, in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The RTA also operates a small number of AH-1F Huey Cobras. However other challengers are said to include a broad range which covers all bases politically and includes the Leonardos AW129 Mangusta, Russian Helicopters Mil Mi-28, China’s CAIC Z-10, and the Boeing AH-64F Apache.

The utility fleet is wide and varied.

Having relied on Bell UH-60s and Bell 212/412s for many years, there nevertheless seems to be opportunity here for other types such as Leonardos AW139, of which the Army now operates

| Asian Military Review |

10 helicopters in a VIP role. Other modernised helicopters being considered also include the Sikorsky UH-60M to go with its existing fleet of UH-60L/Ms.

The Royal Thai Navy With naval power emerging as a major lever in the international strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region, a number of smaller regional navies are finding their position in this balance pulled in different ways. Such pulls principally are between the United States and China, although other actors such as Russia and the major European powers have some leverage.

Thailand is one of the ten Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. The ASEAN countries, as an holistic entity and as individual members, find striking this strategic balance between China and the United States particularly challenging. As China becomes a major global strategic and naval power with particular interest in southeast Asian waters such as the South China Sea, so the United States looks to

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US and Royal Thai navy platforms transit the Andaman Sea during Exercise ‘Sea Guardian’ in 2017. Royal Thai Navy assets pictured are the Type 25T frigate HTMS Naresuan and the Khamronsin-class patrol ship HTMS Longlom. In recent years, the ‘Sea Guardian’ exercise has focused on anti-submarine warfare serials.

work ever more closely with regional navies to counter-balance Beijing’s growing strength and influence.

The construct of the RTN reflects this balancing act, with platforms and equipment procured from both East and West. However, the RTN’s planned purchase of three Chinese Type 041/S26T Yuan-class diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) arguably points to the emerging direction of Thailand’s strategic focus.

Submarine capability According to media reports, in April 2017 the Thai government formally approved the purchase of the first Yuan-class boat.

In July 2016, Thailand had revealed its commitment to the programme for the first time; this followed reports in June 2015 that Thailand’s naval procurement committee had provisionally selected the Chinese option. Each submarine is reputed to have a price tag of around $355 million.

The debate over whether Thailand would pursue a submarine programme included discussion of whether European

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companies would pitch in to the bid process. Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and France’s Naval Group, both have had recent success in selling submarines in the region. South Korean ship and submarine builder DSME could also have been a contender, and is already delivering a future frigate for the RTN. Thailand’s selection of a Chinese submarine, however, could be seen as a tipping point in Bangkok’s strategic focus, in the direction of Beijing.

Thailand’s decision to invest in a submarine capability reflects another key regional issue, that of the growth in strategic, operational, and procurement focus on undersea warfare. Many navies are seeking to boost capability in this area.

In military and wider strategic terms, the possession of a submarine brings significant punch and profile.

While Thailand has no strategic stake in any territorial disputes in and around the South China Sea, its national interest in securing sea lines of communication and resource access, as well as meeting other national needs, creates a natural

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desire to play a role in security matters in the South China Sea and round towards the Malacca Strait. The other navies indigenous to this part of the world – Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore, alongside China – are all building robust submarine capabilities.

The RTN’s three new boats certainly will not be alone in the region.

Thailand also has direct interests in the Indian Ocean. Here, submarine activity is growing, too. Almost all of the world’s major navies – France, India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and now China (but not, at this stage, Russia) – are operating boats in the region.

The RTN’s presence in the Indian Ocean demonstrates Thailand’s desire to play a role in strategic affairs beyond its own waters. RTN ships have contributed to the US-led CTF 151 Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-piracy campaign off Somalia.

Surface force Thailand’s intent to support international operations at distance will be underpinned

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going forward by the purchase of the DSME-built DW3000 F frigate. In January 2017, the company launched the first of a planned pair of platforms, following a $410 million contract signed in August 2013. According to reports, DSME said that the 122 metre, 3,650-tonne frigate, based on South Korea’s KDX-1 destroyer, will undergo sea trials before scheduled handover in 2018. The new ships will provide a boost for the RTN, with its frigate fleet currently based around four relatively old vessel classes.

The ships’ equipment fit also reflects a global trend that is seeing frigates re-positioned towards the higher end of the operational spectrum, with the platforms having surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile and close-in weapons system requirements alongside the traditional frigate fit of a helicopter and a gun. Most striking, perhaps, is the requirement for a towed array sonar, reflecting the Asia-Pacific anti-submarine warfare (ASW) focus. A number of these systems will come from Western suppliers.

The Asia-Pacific ASW emphasis is also reflected in Thailand’s reported interest in a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Media reports have noted Japan’s Kawasaki P-1 and the Airbus Defence and Space C-295 as possible contenders. Perhaps the focus

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KAI

The Royal Thai Navy amphibious ship HTMS Anthong, pictured in the Gulf of Thailand in 2016.

Large-deck amphibious platforms can support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, as well as higher-end tasks such as projecting ground forces ashore from the sea.

The purchase of more Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft is set to make this the Royal Thai Air Force’s fast-jet trainer for the foreseeable future.

on Western options here can be explained in part by a relative lack of comparable Chinese capability.

In 2016, during Exercise Sea Guardian in the Andaman Sea, a US Navy (USN) P-8A Poseidon MPA joined USN and RTN surface ships for ASW trials.

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Maritime security The counter-piracy risk for Thailand is prevalent not just in the Indian Ocean, but closer to home in and around the Gulf of Thailand, the South China Sea, and the Malacca Strait. Here, the RTN has joined forces with the Indonesian, Malaysian,

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and Singaporean navies to improve at-sea co-operation.

The RTN’s ability to provide constabulary capacity to contend with counter-piracy requirements is strengthened by the presence of a large number of patrol craft within its force structure. Perhaps the most prominent patrol platforms are the two 90 m Krabiclass offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

The first ship was delivered in 2013. A contract for the second was signed in January 2016; according to Jane’s, its keel was laid in June 2017: launch is scheduled for 2018.

A number of navies across the AsiaPacific region are also investing in largedeck platforms designed to support tasks across the operational spectrum, from amphibious tasks at the higher end down to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations at the lower end. Such large-deck ships, with the well-deck and helicopter capacity they bring, provide significant operational output. The RTN also has invested in this

capability, with its single Endurance-class landing platform dock (LPD), Anthong, entering service in 2012.

The Royal Thai Air Force On 1 August the Thai government approved the upgrade of four Northrop F-5s flown by the Royal Thai Air Forces (RTAF) 221 Squardon at a cost of around $91 million. The upgrade will reportedly add around 15 years to the service life of the aircraft, extending it to the early 2030s.

The F-5 upgrade will include new communications and avionics suites, a Link-T tactical datalink together with Rafael’s Litening III targeting pod, Skyshield electronic jamming pods, Python-4 and I Derby beyond-visualrange air-to-air missiles, and Elbit’s DASH helmet-mounted display system.

The RTAF also operates 16 Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Fighting Falcon and has 11 JAS 39C/D Saab Gripens (a twelvth aircraft crashed during an airshow at the beginning of the year) with ambitions to purchase a further six Gripens.

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Training aircraft have also been on the military’s shopping list. In July the government stated that approval had been granted for the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a purchase an additional eight Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50TH Golden Eagle fighter training aircraft from South Korea. This trainer was selected in preference to the Chinese Hongdu L-15 trainer. The cost of the purchase is $266 million (Bt8.8 billion) and the aircraft will be added to four T-50s that the RTAF ordered in 2015 making a fleet size of 12 aircraft.

The Golden Eagles would replace up to 40 existing Czech-made Aero Vodochody L-39ZA/ART Albatros jets which feature Elbit avionics.

Evidencing the Thai government’s wish to be seen as neither favouring military hardware suppliers in either the East or the West, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha commented during the announcement: “You can see that we are not tied to one particular country [in terms of weapons procurement.” AMR

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SATCOM ON THE MOVE Despite the proliferation of electronic warfare (EW) technology across the battlespace aimed at disrupting tactical and strategic communications of armed forces, satellite communications (SATCOM) remains a critical element to any expeditionary operation.

by Andrew White 16

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n the Ukraine, Asian Military Review understands from defence sources, that Russian proxy forces continue to conduct mature offensive EW operations against not only tactical communications systems but also unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) solutions, all of which continue to heavily rely upon GPS-data and SATCOM. Sources explained to AMR how these EW and other similar cyber warfare attacks,

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Harris Corporation

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US Special Forces nextgeneration handheld and manpack radio systems will feature the ability to tap into the MUOS constellation for SOTM connectivity.

provide a “highly effective” alternative to non-kinetic attack, with less likelihood of being traced and therefore condemned by the wider international community.

Examples of Russian proxy interference against Ukrainian armed forces conducting the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) include the jamming of VHF, UHF and GSM signals, as well as so-called full network suppression in some areas of eastern Ukraine.

Such targeting of tactical communications networks has resulted in multiple armed forces around the world, including the US Department of Defense (DoD), continuing to consider alternative means of communications in the tactical environment including Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) solutions.

However, despite such disruption, developments in SATCOM continue to drive forward as armed forces seek greater

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coverage, improved security and increased throughput in data links, particularly to support forces deployed at reach.

One of the most critical areas in current SATCOM development, remains the ability to communicate On the Move (OTM). Such a SATCOM OTM (SOTM) capability allows armed forces at the tactical level the ability to share voice and data communications efficiently and effectively while travelling in tactical ground vehicles at speeds up to nearly 130 km/h (80 mph).

As defence sources associated with the international special operations community highlighted to AMR, the contemporary operating environment demands the capability to communicate while on the move in order to maximise intelligence cycles and reduce the socalled ‘kill chain’ as special operations teams in particular, seek to maximise

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operational success during rotations.

Previously, teams would need to establish communications on-the-halt (OTH) in order to successfully transmit and receive to headquarter components as well as other deployed teams via SATCOM. This could mean individual units (callsigns) going static for periods of time in order to establish linkages with satellites without interference.

In some theatres, where geo-stationary satellites remained almost overhead such as Afghanistan and Iraq, some force elements were able to establish a limited SATCOM capability on the move, although this lacked the maturity to be wholly relied upon and instead providing an intermittent service.

The advent of SOTM however, is set to significantly impact upon the concepts of operation (CONOPS); tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) undertaken

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Danish Special Forces are set to benefit from the MSS programme which aims to provide an enhanced SOTM capability for the wider armed forces.

by ground force elements in multiple environments, where OTH drills may no longer be necessary.

As sources explained to AMR, these revised TTPs continue to be developed by the SOF com-munity in particular, as this type of SOTM capability continues to come online.

Size, Weight and Power Critical to any development in SOTM is the optimised reduction in size, weight and power (SWaP) of not only the radio set itself but also amplifying technology, antennae and ancillaries. Hence the reason why armed forces continue to attempt to find an optimal balance between transportability and power output in a single solution.

One of the leading agencies globally

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considering a next generation solution in the area of SOTM is the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which as AMR went to press, was preparing for the first deliveries of the next-generation Special Operations Forces Tactical Communications (STC) Next Generation Handheld (NGHH) and Next Generation Man Pack (NGMP) radio sets, both of which will be capable of enabling SOTM to the lowest tactical level.

Addressing delegates at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, Florida, on 16 May 2017, USSOCOM J6 director, John Wilcox described how the “next generation of SATCOM has been evolving for a while”, with revolutionary change expected to be implemented between 2019 and 2020 with the optimisation of Medium Earth Orbit

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(MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) payloads.

Wilcox explained how important the mobile environment (OTM) remained in respect to the successful execution of special operations in the expeditionary environment where “…operators must be able to operate anywhere at anytime”.

He also called for 80 percent of the USSOCOM force to have mobile SATCOM capability by 2020, which not only refers to an OTM capability but also nonproprietary solutions capable of carrying multiple form factors and able to support mission sets across non-permissive, semipermissive and permissive environments as demanded; in addition to the provision of SATCOM-enabled and untethered access to the SOF Command and Control (C2) network anywhere in the world.

In 2015, Harris Corporation was

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awarded a $390 million contract from the DoD to design, develop and field the NGHH as a small, lightweight, multiband, multifunction, multi-mission tactical radio to replace in-service AN/PRC-152 handsets.

Similarly, in June 2017, Harris Corporation also won a $255 million contract from the DoD to supply more than 7,000 NGMP radio sets to replace legacy AN/PRC-117F and -117G models. Both AN/PRC-152 and AN/PRC-117 radio solutions have retained a limited capability to conduct SOTM duties although company officials from Harris Corporation described to AMR how the STC family of systems will provide a truly nextgeneration capability to force elements.

Designed to be carried by individual operators (NGHH) on the ground; as well as on board vehicles and other platforms (NGMP); these STC variants feature the capability to operate between 30 and 512MHz; 225-450MHz; and 13002600MHz frequency bands with the added benefit of exploiting legacy and future

waveform developments for specialist requirements including Trellisware’s MANET TSM-X waveform. Harris Corporation has been awarded both NGHH and NGMP contracts.

Another significant capability uplift for USSOCOM teams which will be integrated into both NGHH and NGMP variants to provide operators with a SOTM down to the lowest tactical level is the DoD’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) which has been optimised for use across the armed services through the US Navy. However, MUOS waveforms will also be integrated into legacy SATCOM terminals including Harris Corporation’s AN/PRC-117F and -117G models.

MUOS Developed by Lockheed Martin, MUOS comprises an ultra-high frequency (UHF) SATCOM capability for ‘mobile forces’, according to company literature, which is capable of supporting mobile and tactical mission sets in the land, air and maritime environments.

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MUOS will provide force elements with simultaneous voice, video and data across a high-speed Internet Protocol (IP) based solution, Lockheed Martin officials describe how the capa-bility would “… seamlessly connect around the globe and into the Global Information Grid, as well as into the Defense Switching Network”.

STC NGHH and NGMP form factors will be able to feature the MUOS narrowband waveforms across a satellite constellation comprising four orbiting satellites and ground control stations, providing DoD forces with global coverage. Each satellite includes a dual payload to support Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) waveforms as well as legacy UHF SAT-COM waveforms, the latter of which will continue to be relied upon in the short term.

The MUOS constellation also includes a fifth satellite as a spare, capable of filling any network deficiencies globally with Lockheed Martin officials claiming how the MOUS solution would provide up to ‘X16’

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The UK Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement with Airbus to extend the Skynet constellation to fill projected future capability gaps in SAT-COM services.

the capacity of current in-service systems.

Furthermore and in line with emerging requirements from the operational environment, MUOS has been optimised for connectivity across the Arctic Circle.

“Activity in the Arctic is growing as the polar sheet cap recedes. More people, shipping, exploration and search and rescue expose the need for secure communications to protect the region. However, getting satellite communications signal is extremely difficult. But not anymore,” a Lockheed Martin data sheet revealed.

The MUOS capability was most recently tested down to the lowest tactical level at the US Army’s Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 17.2 exercise, which took place at Fort Bliss, Texas on 16 August 2017.

According to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), this latest iteration of the NIE saw teams using omni-directional antennae to connect tactical communications solutions to the MUOS constellation for SOTM. Force elements from the 101st Airborne Division’s 26th Infantry Regiment tested a variety of antennae in man-pack and vehicle-mounted configurations, ahead of full certification of the MUOS network,

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expected in 2019. Once this has been achieved, the army will be in a position to begin operational exploitation of the constellation in an operational context.

In terms of the US Army, MUOS is set to be integrated into the army’s forthcoming Next Generation HMS (Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Factor) Manpack radio requirement (worth up to $12.7 billion over a ten year period) which is currently considering 101 variants from each of the programme participants which includes General Dynamics, Harris Corporation and Rockwell Collins.

Omni-directional antennae currently available in the market include Spectra Group’s SlingShot which, according to defence sources, is currently being considered by multiple SOF components globally in order to ensure SOTM on foot and on vehicle as well as surface vessels.

According to Spectra Group business development director, Steff Taylor, dismounted force elements need to “…exercise command and control of widely dispersed forces in austere environments without the delay of deploying terrestrial infrastructures, or the operational burden of protecting and sustaining them”.

Available in manpack, vehicle, maritime as well as aviation

| Asian Military Review |

configurations, SlingShot comprises an omni-directional antenna without loss of signal or quality, Taylor claimed. “There is no need to alter direction or stop to locate a beam, or stand or kneel to expose yourself,” he added while referring to changing CONOPS and TTPs. “As demand for better on-the-ground communication continues to increase, users of the latest modern military mobility equipment have begun focusing their attention on implementing the technology in SATCOM to deliver data to and from hostile environments. To then implement the latest SATCOM technology and to make it militarily and commercially viable has become the challenge for SOTM equipment manufacturers,” Taylor added.

Spectra Group also informed AMR of the latest addition to the SlingShot solution, the Satellite Emulator (SSE), designed to extend the availability of power options to the holistic system. This includes an L-Band satellite emulator for full offline system testing without a live satellite channel; a Universal Power Supply solution affording flexibility in power needs; as well as an AA battery cassette capable of powering SlingShot in manpack form.

“The SSE comprises a programmable test tool, permitting operators to train with the system as if it was in real-time operational use by simulating satellite connectivity without expenditure,” a company official explained to AMR. “There is no need for reconfiguration or frequency programming as it behaves as a satellite and only reacts to the incoming RF from SlingShot. All that needs to be done is to ensure the supplied Transmit/ Receive antennae are connected, plug it in and it’s ready for testing.”

Elsewhere, the Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated the process to significantly improve its SATCOM capabilities in line with emerging operational requirements. In September, the Danish Defence, Acquisition & Logistics Organisation (DALO) triggered its Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) requirement, expected to comprise a total contract value of up to $3 million.

Aimed at further enhancing the personal communication devices of the Danish defence armed forces, the MSS is aimed at fulfilling requirements in light of increasing demand for data-based communications in the future.

“The communication is call-based as well as data-traffic. It is foreseen that the

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data based communication will increase going forward as the satellite operators plan to expand the com-munication and data capacity substantially within the period [four years] of the framework agreement,” DALO officials confirmed.

Defence sources also demanded that the MSS satisfy emerging requirements across the Arctic Circle where Danish SOF in particular, continue to witness growing operational demands.

SOTM terminals will also be supported by personal wearable phones with small weight and long battery, as well as fixedmounted terminals similar to those already integrated on board surface vessels.

“The satellite connection may also be in the form of a communication hub, connecting to other devices like smart phones or computers. The SATCOM device may also be connected to a VHF or UHF tactical radio to extend the range via a commercial satellite connection,” DALO literature added.

MSS will provide force elements with a 24/7 SOTM capability, supported by a management solution capable of monitoring both voice and data traffic as well as operational status of the satellite communication service.

“Voice-based communication and data communication shall be routed to the Danish Defence internal communication network through dedicated connections and should, where possible, not be routed via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In this setup a simpler control of cost and quality may be achieved. The access point for the satellite operator connection to the dedicated connection shall be located in a NATO country,” DALO officials added.

Finally, the UK armed forces have moved a step closer to fielding their own next-generation SATCOM capability with a contract awarded to Airbus on 3 August 2017 to supply the Skynet 6A payload to replace the legacy Skynet 5.

An official response from the MoD reads: “The Skynet 6A transitional satellite (whose purpose is to extend the life of the current ageing Skynet 5 constellation) will be acquired through single source award to Airbus Defence and Space. The MOD reasserts that the more substantial and less time-sensitive elements representing the new Service Delivery construct and Enduring Capability retain their default competitive position.”

However, Skynet 6A is not expected to become operational until 2025 with Airbus officials unable to provide further

details to AMR at the present time.

However, industry sources confirmed that the capability would include the integration of a SOTM solution in order to manipulated multiple platform types including the MoD’s high altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS), the Zephyr unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The Zephyr HAPS UAV is currently undergoing an evaluation with the MoD to consider its future utility as not only an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform but also as a communications relay system capable of supporting its own organic network of

OTM communications with dismounted ground users operating at reach.

Conclusion No matter how mature offensive EW capabilities remain across the modern operating space, requirement for effective and efficient SOTM connectivity will remain an integral element to armed forces conducting expeditionary operations.

However, armed forces will need to consider alternative technologies such as MANET and High Frequency solutions should SATCOM become disrupted by enemy forces. AMR

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COMBAT SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE SOLDIERS In a contemporary operating environment witnessing increasing levels of tension across the Korean Peninsula, the capabilities of dismounted, mounted and special operations units have once again risen to prominence.

by Andrew White

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state actors closely studying technology and materiel as they consider counterstrategies as part of homeland and internal security campaigns.

However, as defence sources associated with the SOF community in Asia Pacific highlighted to Asian Military Review, the equipment employed by KPA units involved in the offensive action raid appeared limited at best.

One source, speaking to AMR upon the condition of anonymity, explained how the so-called leading elements of the KPA, lacked any visible future soldier technology beyond standard night vision goggles, combat helmet, body armour and assault rifle.

The drills, which comprised maritime, parachute and ground assaults, lacked any observable technology more commonly associated with future soldier programmes around the globe, which can include command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (C4ISTAR) systems; as well as materiel designed to improve mobility and survivability on the battlefield.

Despite the lack of prevalence in such technology, the remainder of the Asia Pacific theatre continues to ramp up the future soldier capabilities as part of wider concerns to not only stave off any tactical interference from the DPRK but also as part of their own counter-insurgency (COIN) and counter-terrorism (CT) responses.

Russia IWI’s Negev NG7 Light Machine Gun had been selected as a next-generation armament for the Indian Army although the downselection has been cancelled by service officials.

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n 25th August, Special Operations Forces (SOF) from the Democratic Republic of Korea’s (DPRK’s) Korean People’s Army (KPA) conducted the latest in a series of offensive action ‘Show of Force’ exercises designed to imitate the invasion of various island chains belonging to its southern neighbour, the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Aired by state media organisations, the exercise provided a glimpse into some of the capabilities of the DPRK’s SOF component with neighbouring

The Russian armed forces used its annual Army International Military Technical Forum, held near Moscow, on 22 August 2017 to promote its latest future soldier concepts as it bids to maintain some kind of pace with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) which is due to unveil a technology demonstrator of the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) towards the latter part of 2018.

With first and second generation Ratnik (Russian future soldier) technology already in service with its SOF and conventional ground units, the Russian armed forces have assisted the Rostec Corporation subsidiary, the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building, with nextgeneration solutions capable of assisting the airborne insertion of personnel by parachute; ISTAR-integrated visors for combat helmets; and undisclosed variants designed to assist special operations.

According to Russian Ministry of

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Defence figures, approximately 50,000 personnel have now received second generation Ratnik ensembles, comprising a total of 10 sub-systems in an outfit.

These include small arms solutions; personal protection equipment including combat helmets and body armour; tactical communications equipment; and navigation equipment.

However, on show at the Army International Military Technical Forum this year was the Russian MoD’s nextgeneration solution which in appearance at least, looks to be matching the USSOCOM TALOS programme regarding its capabilities.

A mock-up solution of a thirdgeneration Ratnik ensemble, on show at the event, featured an enclosed combat helmet with visor, night vision headset mount, scalable body armour and mandible protection feature; exo-skeleton for assisted load carriage; and futuristic small arms solution featuring polymerbased ammunition cartridges, although industry sources explained to AMR how such a solution might not be witnessed on the battlefield for a further decade or more.

Industry sources described how a visor-integrated heads-up display featured a target acquisition feed including ballistic calculator while the combat helmet itself comprised a built-in respirator for operating in chemical, biological and radiological environments. Sources associated with the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building also explained to AMR how the display would allow soldiers to manipulate thirdparty platforms including unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield while also monitoring the biometric data of an individual and networking it back to a headquarters element.

Additional claims made by the company included a camouflage system capable of morphing colours in response to emerging operational requirements; as well as ballistic protection solutions capable of withstanding more than ten direct hits from undisclosed calibres.

Simliar to the TALOS effort, the Russian MoD is planning to unveil a technology demonstrator concept of the Ratnik-3 by the start of 2018 Developments followed calls made

by Rostec subsidiary, Rosoboronexport, on 29th May 2017, calling for greater capabilities in the area of weapon systems and future soldier systems.

“Rosoboronexport is gearing up to push to the world arms market advanced

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free-floating barrel, the AK-12 (5.45mm x 39mm) features a thirty round magazine and is capable of providing Ratnikequipped soldiers with a maximum effective range out to 400m, a Kalashnikov Group company source confirmed. The rifle also features a rail adaptor system for the integration of tactical accessories including laser target designators; torches; and weapon sights, providing scalability and modularity to respond to rapidly emerging operational requirements.

Singapore

The US Special Operations Command’s Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) concept remains a market leader in the art of the possible of glob-al future soldier technology programmes.

individual combat systems and future small arms,” explained director general Alexander Mikheev.

“We are facing growing demand for small arms, close combat systems, sights and ammunition in the world. To improve chances and competitiveness of the weapons that we deliver, Russian enterprises will develop new systems and mount an effort of upgrading existing models through the use of advanced materials and technologies,” he explained while highlighting potential growth in the Asia Pacific and international arenas.

Future developments are also expected to concentrate on optical weapon sights and night vision devices, as well as “state-of-the-art individual combat systems,” he added.

Ongoing efforts are also being

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supported by significant developments in small arms solutions from companies including the Kalashnikov Group. In July 2017, the company announced how one of its latest assault rifles - the AK-12 had successfully passed an evaluation programme with the Russian MoD in June 2017, thereby providing it with the green light for entry into service with combat components.

The 5.45mm x 39mm assault rifle has been designated as one of nine selected small arms solutions certified for the Ratnik programme, a company spokesperson confirmed to AMR. However, the AK-12 is also available in larger calibres including 7.62mm x 39mm and standard NATO configuration 5.56mm x 45mm rounds.

With an all up weight of 3.5kg and

| Asian Military Review |

Celebrating its 50th anniversary as a company is Singapore Technologies Engineering which, according to its chief marketing officer, Winston Toh, is now concentrating on providing a more “holistic” future soldier solution capable of supporting both dismounted close combat; mounted close combat; and special operations forces.

Centred around the concept of helping combat troops operate in a hybrid operating environment (comprising both high intensity and low intensity conflict), Toh explained to AMR how ST Engineering subsidiary, ST Kinetics, was offering a series of capabilities aimed at smoothing the transition between mounted and dismounted operations in line with mission demands from across the contemporary operating environment.

STK solutions span lethality, mobility and protection as well as connectivity with the latter con-centrating on the shortening of targeting cycles and intelligence chains, leading to increased situation awareness; more rapid decision making; and integrated information pictures down to the lowest tactical level.

“STK is constantly developing and building smart, innovative defence systems for full-spectrum operations and urban warfare,” Toh highlighted. “The modern day dismounted sol-dier faces even more challenges in the digitised battlefield, requiring a high level of protection and situational awareness in order to be effective.

“Cognisant of these challenges, STK is developing the Army Individual Eco-Lightweight Equipment (ARIELE), which combines the latest in tactical communications, surveillance, and protection technologies in a compact and ergonomic ensemble. Besides enhancing tactical fighting performance, ARIELE exploits information from the C4ISR network to elevate the sol-dier’s situational awareness,” a company

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STK’s future soldier concept seeks to integrate mounted and dismounted personnel in a single operating picture with seamless transition between re-roling.

spokesperson confirmed to AMR. ARIELE comprises a series of modular solutions, any number of which can be integrated with one another to form a mission-specific ensemble for the customer. Options include the Shield-ed Advanced Eyewear System (SHADES); Adaptive Real Time Core Temperature Intelligence Cooler (ARCTIC); Power and Energy Management System (POEMS) including enhanced wire-less charger; Personal Reinforced Outer Tactical Equipment Carrier (PROTEC); Personal Light-weight Armour Technology (PLATE); Portable Watt-HR for Extended Range (POWER) fuel cell; and Bionic Regenerative Active Energy System.

All of these items can be integrated with a central processing hub as well as small arms solu-tion such as STK’s own Bullpup Multirole Combat Rifle (BMCR) which is available in standard NATO 5.56mm x 45mm calibre.

Also featuring a rail adaptor system for the integration of the usual tactical accessories, the BMCR also features the ability to carry an integrated 40mm

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underslung grenade launcher, in-cluding the company’s own STK 40GL. Central to this technology solution is power management with STK officials highlighting the POEMS technology which offers “a small, lightweight and easy way to draw power from sources such as fuel cells, solar-mats, building power sockets or even vehicle 12 VDC outlets”.

“The power can then be used to charge batteries, directly power military equipment or simply do both,” officials added before concluding how the Enhanced Wireless Charger relied upon electric field induction allowing a deployed soldier to recharge end user devices anywhere in the field.

Turkey Meanwhile, Turkish company Aselsan used the IDEF exhibition in Istanbul during May 2017 to highlight its latest effort in the future soldier technology realm with the launch of the Cenker Command and Control solution.

Aimed at providing Turkish armed forces as well as international coalition

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partners with a dismounted and mounted C2 capability, Aselsan’s Cenker concept has been designed to dissem-inate related situation awareness (SA) across the tactical battlespace, comprising both voice and data.

Launched at the event on 11 May 2017, the solution, according to a company spokesperson from the company, has been designed to increase the individual and team skills of combat teams during “holistic warfare” with a series of modular and scalable solutions capable of being integrated together.

Sub-systems include tactical inter- and intra-patrol communications through bone conduction microphone; data and power transmission e-textiles; health, position and activity tracking technology; navigation overlays and aids; day and low light (infrared) cameras; target detection and laser rangefinder technology; machine learning interface; power management module including harvesting technology; as well as organic protection for the individual against electronic warfare threats.

The solution, which also includes an ballistic protected combat helmet with integrated power management system, GPS and Electro-Optical/IR helmet camera, has also been designed to feature integration capabilities with vertical take-off/landing quadrotor UAVs, used for organic over-the-hill reconnaissance duties at the squad/section level.

Technology subsystems are integrated into a plate carrier with end user device *typically tab-let or smartphone), worn as a wrist mounted solution for C2 and SA. Cenker systems have also been integrated with a smart watch, capable of recording biometric data of an individual mounted/ dismounted soldier, Aselsan officials also explained. Furthermore, concept designs made available to AMR from Aselsan, illustrated future designs which could incorporate an enclosed combat helmet design similar to those being undertaken by the TALOS and Ratnik-3 programmes in the US and Russia respectively.

Company sources confirmed that the Cenker concept continued to be developed in line with the Turkish Armed Forces with a technology demonstrator expected to be made available to combat elements in the short term.

India Finally, the Indian Army continues to receive mixed signals with regards to future soldier technology improvements

which have long been promised to a currently under-equipped force.

On 30 August 2017, the Indian MoD announced it would be implementing a series of changes by December 2019 following the publication of findings by a government committee. These include the structural reform of the army as well as efforts to adjust and improve the force’s combat effectiveness, defence sources confirmed to AMR. The army and special operations forces have been seeking replacements for a variety of small arms and support weapon systems for several years with India’s Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) having had rejected by the army it’s own next-generation 7.62mm x 51mm assault rifle. The army had been seeking a total of 185,000 rifles as a next-generation system to replace legacy options.

Similar requirements for 45,000 carbines for SOF have also been curtailed due to indecision following extensive field trials involving offerings from CZ, Colt Defense, Beretta and IWI although

in May 2017, the MoD did issue another Request for Information (RfI) regarding a replacement 7.62mm rifle for the Indian Air Force’s Garud Commando unit.

This was followed on 14th June by a renewed effort by the army to field a carbine for the special forces with an RfI for a total of 44,000 5.56mm x 45mm close quarter battle rifles.

However, industry sources suggested to AMR that there appears little appetite for change across the MoD following the news of the cancellation of a three-year programme aimed at equipping the army with a total of nearly 10,000 next-generation light machine gun weapon systems.

The programme, understood to have been cancelled on 9 August, had been considering IWI’s 7.62mm x 51mm Negev NG7 machine gun to replace in-service 5.56mm INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) LMGs. The NG7 LMG is currently deployed with the Israeli Defence Forcer (IDF) and is also available in standard NATO 5.56mm x 45mm calibre. The belt-fed,

semi-automatic weapon would have provided the Indian Army with a maximum effective range of 800m compared to the 5.56mm INSAS which has a maximum effective range of 400m.

However, Indian Army sources suggested to AMR that all competitions would be revitalised in the near term in order to fulfill a series of capability gaps currently witnessed across the com-bat arms of the MoD.

Conclusion Armed forces across Asia Pacific now rely upon a mix of indigenously designed and developed technology as well as international solutions, capable of supporting future soldier programmes.

However, as is the case with coalition partners abroad, restricted funding continues to constrain progress across soldier modernisation programmes as governments struggle to confirm future funding to optimise the capabilities of dismounted, mounted and special operations soldiers. AMR

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The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) landing platform dock (LPD) vessel RSS Endurance (background) sailing with the US Navy’s DDG 51 Arleigh Burkeclass destroyer USS Benfold, during Exercise ‘Pacific Griffin’ off Guam in mid2017. Amphibious capability underlines the RSN’s ability to project power at distance, but the navy does not have a sovereign at-sea support capability.

AMPHIBIOUS SUSTAINED REACH Large ships can, by definition, support a number of tasks. Such flexibility inherent in both amphibious and logistics platforms is being exploited by a number of Asia-Pacific navies, as they seek to cover a range of operational requirements.

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n December 2013, a US Navy (USN) Ticonderoga-class cruiser, USS Cowpens, was involved in an incident with a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) amphibious ship in the South China Sea. Cowpens was reported to have deployed to observe the operations of China’s first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, and its associated task group; the PLAN’s amphibious platform moved to deter the USN cruiser from conducting this task.

In October 2014, another PLAN amphibious vessel, the Type 071 landing platform dock (LPD) Changbaishan, demonstrated the range of tasks large-deck platforms can undertake by deploying to the Indian Ocean to support China’s naval escort flotilla rotations (which generate Beijing’s contribution to the in-

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ternational counter-piracy campaign off Somalia). The ship also pulled into the Sultanate of Oman’s port of Salalah, demonstrating a diplomatic role in the process.

On a number of recent occasions, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN’s) multirole vessel HMNZS Canterbury also demonstrated this range of capabilities.

In April 2015 and in February 2016, the ship deployed to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations in Vanuatu and Fiji respectively, both operations implemented in response to tropical cyclones. In the Fiji operation, HADR support was provided also by the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) lead landing helicopter dock (LHD), HMAS Canberra. At home, in November 2016, Canterbury played a central part in the HADR response to the earthquake that

| Asian Military Review |

struck the south island’s Kaikoura region.

The 9,000-tonne ship can embark a range of helicopters, and this capability was used to transport relief materials ashore and evacuate civilians. In this operation, Canterbury was joined by the RNZN’s fleet tanker, HMNZS Endeavour. Canterbury was conceived as the cornerstone of the New Zealand Defence Force’s emerging joint amphibious task force (JATF) concept. Speaking at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) maritime capability conference in London on 11 September 2017, RNZN chief Rear Admiral John Martin said that the navy is seeking to maintain credible capability across the spectrum of operations.

Canterbury clearly provides capacity to cover a large part of this spectrum.

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The Royal Australian Navy’s lead LHD HMAS Canberra, operating with US and New Zealand naval forces during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2017. The ship worked with US Marines during the exercise, and the development of close ties between Australia and the US is one of the main features of amphibious developments in the Asia-Pacific region.

Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) ships – including the navy’s lead LPD RSS Endurance, sailed almost 5,000 km to waters off Guam in the western Pacific to participate in Exercise Pacific Griffin with the USN, covering antisubmarine, anti-surface, and air-defence drills.

According to a US 7th Fleet statement released on 5 September, the exercise was the first bilateral activity between the two navies away from Singaporean waters. One striking element was that the RSN deployed at distance once again without an auxiliary ship. The RSN has deployed ships to support Indian Ocean counter-piracy operations, including taking command of the USN-led Combined Task Force (CTF)-151. Such distant deployments demonstrate that the RSN has ocean-going capacity with its surface ships and amphibious platforms. This raises the question of if and when the RSN may procure a sovereign auxiliary capability to support its extensive area of operations.

These are a selection of examples demonstrating why and how Asia-Pacific navies deploy platforms such as amphibious and logistics vessels. Such ships, with their size and the inherent flexibility this brings, provide navies with the opportunity to maximise platform use for a range of operations, regardless of the platform’s design and broad capability outfit. Reflecting also a trend across the Asia-Pacific region, this means a range of operations across the spectrum of requirements can be met with one platform.

A general discussion of amphibious and logistics ships might not find much overlap in capability or role. However, naval operations in the Asia-Pacific region are seeing both types employed for a range of tasks, in large part due

to their size and flexibility. In this context, it is notable that the use of large, multi-purpose vessels in the region is growing, both in terms of navies procuring multirole vessels and in how they are using single-role ships for a range of purposes.

Amphibious operations Amphibious platforms are generally procured to support higher-end operations, principally the need to project power ashore from the sea, with military force deployed over the beach by helicopter and/or landing craft. At a time of significant strategic instability in the Asia-Pacific region, due in part to a number of territorial disputes (especially in the South China Sea), some analysts see amphibious capability as being central to shaping the regional power balance. Recent years have seen amphibious patrols and exercises conducted in disputed areas, demonstrating a different aspect of the utility of amphibious ships in flying the flag.

Nick Childs, senior research fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), told AMR that “in a region of contested territorial and maritime claims, a key driver is, if not classic power projection, at least the ability to deploy and sustain forces at range over a wide area”.

Amphibious forces based on large, flexible platforms are a core component of this capability.

A number of different Asia-Pacific navies are investing in new amphibious capabilities. The RAN has welcomed into service its two Canberraclass LHDs, Canberra and HMAS Adelaide. The 26,000-tonne ships, commissioned in November 2014 and December 2015 respectively, bring the

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The Republic of Korea’s amphibious assault ship Dokdo, pictured in the East China Sea in 2014 during an exercise. The ship’s ability to put helicopters, armoured vehicles, and personnel across the beach demonstrates South Korea’s focus on higher-end naval operations.

capacity to deploy eight helicopters and 1,000 troops. Along with the 16,400-tonne Bay-class landing ship dock (LSD) HMAS Choules, the ‘Canberra’ class provides Australia’s amphibious capability.

A defence spokesperson told AMR that the ‘Canberra’ class provides the Australian Defence Force (ADF) “with the ability to undertake a range of operations, including supporting the maritime security of South East Asia and Pacific Island countries, and addressing emergent threats in the broader Indo-Pacific region”.

“The flexibility inherent in the amphibious capability of the LHD provides the capacity to respond to a range of contingencies,” the spokesperson added: such contingencies include short-notice HADR operations, non-combatant evacuation operations (NEOs), and “opening a point of entry in a hostile environment”.

The RAN’s concept of operations is to ensure that “at least one of these [three] ships is available at very short notice throughout the high-risk weather season (November through April) to support the provision of HADR if required”, said the spokesperson. This three-ship capability also allows “a regional response capability [to] be maintained in addition to yearround international engagement, support of raise/train/sustain activities, and, importantly, the development of ADF amphibious warfighting capabilities.”

For the ‘Canberra’ class in particular, the spokesperson added that its command, control, and communications (C3) capabilities mean that, in terms of supporting cross-government responses to regional contingencies such as HADR, the ships are “well suited for the embarkation of non-military personnel from a

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wide range of government agencies and non-government organisations”; such capacity, the spokesperson continued, will be developed further to build the platforms’ impact, including through embarking other government stakeholders for training and exercise activities.

As regards the amphibious output, the spokesperson said this capability is scalable, ranging from one ship embarking a combat team landing force “through to the full amphibious capability of the medium-weight battlegroup, requiring all three vessels and a supporting maritime task group”.

The ships’ amphibious capability is something the RAN shares with joint and combined partners, with the Australian Army providing the landing force and the US Marine Corps keen to tap into the RAN’s capacity so as to boost its own regional presence.

For the recent exercise, ‘Talisman Sabre 17’, Canberra worked alongside a USMC contingent in amphibious serials.

During Exercise ‘Hamel 2016’, USMC personnel were embarked in Canberra.

The spokesperson added that “further opportunities are being explored by which the USMC can work with the RAN and the Australian Army across a range of training programmes,” adding that “this collaboration is expected to progress as the ADF amphibious capability matures.”

Australia of course has direct interests in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is seeing a significant increase in strategic focus from the world’s naval powers, and the potential deployment of a RAN task group including a number of amphibious platforms supported by air warfare destroyers and future frigates and submarines would create a powerful presence in this particular region.

As noted above, the PLAN has already been using amphibious forces to support operations in the ‘Near Seas’ (in and around the South China Sea) and ‘Far Seas’ (at distance in the Asia-Pacific, into the Indian Ocean, and beyond). It has also been working up amphibious task groups in home waters, as well as conducting amphibious exercises in the Asia-Pacific region.

The presence of PLAN amphibious ships in the Indian Ocean today is striking, especially in terms of China’s strategic balance with India. For example, the Indian Navy only has one large amphibious vessel, Jalawasha (a retired US Navy ship that first entered service in 1971). Pushing on from the Indian Ocean, and once again underscoring the diplomatic role that high-end amphibious ships can play, early 2015 saw Changbaishan and other PLAN platforms conduct port visits across the Mediterranean and northern Europe.

While the navy has a number of amphibious platforms, Changbaishan and her three Type 071 Yuzhao-class sister ships are perhaps the PLAN’s most prominent LPDs. The 19,800-tonne ships can embark four landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vessels, four helicopters, and 800 troops.

China’s recent and rather rapid boostUS Navy

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The PLAN’s Type 903 Fuchi-class support ship Qiandao Hu, pictured during a port visit to Naval Station Mayport, Florida in November 2015. The PLAN’s support ship are central elements in projecting its ‘Far Seas’ presence.

| ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW |

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ing of its ‘Far Seas’ operational capacity has been driven by the requirement to conduct NEOs for Chinese nationals caught up in crisis regions (such as Libya and Yemen). According to Childs, this is one particular area where amphibious shipping offers significant value for China.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) has a robust set of amphibious capabilities. Of prominence are its two 24,000-tonne Izumo-class ships, commissioned in 2015 and 2017 respectively. These platforms have been defined as destroyers or carriers, but are amphibious platforms capable of embarking up to 14 helicopters of various types. The JMSDF has another five amphibious platforms: two 18,000-tonne Hyuga-class helicopter carriers, and three 14,000-tonne Osumi-class LPDs. The former can embark 10 helicopters, with the latter able to deploy over 300 troops via two LCACs. South Korea is perhaps the other regional navy with a robust amphibious capability focused on higher-end operations.

In 2007, it commissioned its single ‘Dokdo’-class landing platform helicopter (LPH) ship. The 16,000-tonne vessel can carry 10 armoured vehicles and can deploy 700 troops ashore using two LCACs. The navy’s older fleet of ‘Alligator’-class landing ship tank (LST) vessels was boosted in 2014 with the arrival of Cheonwangbong, the first of four new 7,000-tonne LSTs; the remaining three are scheduled to arrive by 2019.

A number of other navies have been building amphibious capabilities, although arguably with such forces focused towards the lower end of the operational spectrum, such as for HADR operations. In the Asia-Pacific region, higher-end operations tend to be a source of confrontation between navies whereas tasks at the lower end of the scale tend to generate co-operation.

According to Childs, using amphibious shipping to support HADR operations “can be a catalyst for growing regional and extra-regional naval and maritime partnering and co-operation”.

Such co-operation has been demonstrated in the recent exercise ‘Indo-Pacific Endeavour’, which took place in September 2017. According to an Australian government media release, Adelaide joined other RAN and ADF assets for the exercise, along with participation from more than a dozen regional countries: the exercise would also “[demonstrate] Australia’s ability to support humanitarian assistance and disaster responses throughout the region”, the release noted.

Indonesia is procuring a total of six ‘Dr Soeharso/Makassar’class multirole vessels. Five of the 11,500-tonne ships are in service, with a sixth ordered in 2017. Providing both support and helicopter capabilities, the ships can embark two Airbus Helicopters AS332L Super Puma helicopters; 13 tanks or 500 troops can be deployed by landing craft from a well-deck.

The ‘Makassar’ design has also been used by Indonesia to build two strategic support vessels (SSVs) for the Philippine Navy.

In a second example of sharing amphibious ship designs, Thailand’s 7,600-tonne LPD Anthong is based on the RSN’s ‘Endurance’-class design and was built by Singapore shipyard ST Marine. The ship can embark 500 troops or 19 main battle tanks (MBTs), with landing craft utility (LCU) vessels used to deploy these capabilities.

The RSN itself has four ‘Endurance’-class LPDs, which entered service between 2000 and 2001. These are slightly larger, at 8,500 tonnes, and can embark two Super Puma helicopters, four landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVPs), 18 MBTs, and 350 troops. The ships have been used in a range of operations at distance, including supporting Indian Ocean counter-piracy operations and conducting round-the-world deployments.

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Logistics support Some Asia-Pacific navies with robust amphibious and other platform types designed for distant operations nonetheless have relatively limited support ship capacity.

The RSN, for example, has yet to invest in such capability.

The JMSDF has extremely robust amphibious and surface ship capabilities, but has a modest support fleet including two ‘Mashu’-class and three ‘Towada’-class ships. Like all other elements of Japan’s armed forces, the JMSDF’s structure is built around a defensive disposition. It also has extremely robust operational ties with the USN. This explains its relatively small number of support ships, given its fleet size.

Conversely, the PLAN’s focus on boosting its ‘Far Seas’ operational capability – especially in the Indian Ocean and West of Suez – is reflected in its significant investment in afloat support. Of note here is the PLAN’s eight-strong fleet of Type 903/903A Fuchi-class replenishment ships. While the PLAN’s new basing access in Djibouti will bolster the operational capacity of ships operating in the Indian Ocean, as the navy deploys more regularly West of Suez then so afloat support becomes more important, as shore-based resupply points will be harder to find in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Other navies have used logistics ships to provide presence at distance. For example, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has deployed the first of its two 9,000-tonne ‘Bunga Mas’ support ships on Indian Ocean counter-piracy operations.

Russia has a significant focus on developing its strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Its surface ships operating there are supported by eight auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels. Four LSTs (three ‘Ropucha’ and one ‘Alligator’ class) are also based in the region. It is notable, however, that Russia has no larger amphibious platforms operating there. Russian plans in this area received a setback when France cancelled the sale of two ‘Mistral’-class LHDs in 2015: reports suggested these ships were set to be deployed to the Asia-Pacific region. AMR

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More than 700 Beechcraft T-6 basic trainers are in service with the US Air Force and Navy, only the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the Republic of China Air Force are the only Asia-Pacific customers for the Harvard II.

MITTENS OR MASTERS, BLUE MAGPIES OR GOLDEN EAGLES? As the complexity of fighter aircraft keeps increasing, the need for better training aircraft that can prepare pilots for this higher level of performance are required.

by David Oliver

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he world’s air forces operate more than 7,500 fixed-wing training aircraft, with a further 600 on order. Of this total, there are 1,852 in the Asia-Pacific region with 250 on order. Over 1,100 fixed-wing military training aircraft are forecast to be delivered in the next ten years, valued at nearly $20 billion.

The most numerous turboprop basic trainer is the Beechcraft T-6A/B/C Texan II, 760 of which are operated by the United States (US) armed forces. The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) are the only Asia-Pacific customers for the T-6C. Outside the US, Pilatus of Switzerland dominates the basic trainer market with the PC-9 in service with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), while the PC-7 Mk.II, which is still in production, has been delivered to the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), the Royal Malaysian

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Air Force (RMAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). A total of 75 PC-7 Mk.IIs have been delivered to the IAF and in March 2015, India’s defence acquisition council approved an option for 38 additional aircraft as part of the IAF’s requirement for 181 basic trainer aircraft (BTA). However, earlier this year, the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar announced that the IAF had reached Stage II of the BTA programme and that it will procure the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) HTT-40 basic trainer instead of the further import of foreign-built basic trainer aircraft.

The latest turboprop basic trainer from the Pilatus stable is the PC-21 which is in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and 49 are being delivered to the RAAF to replace its fleet of PC-9s.

Although Brazil’s Embraer Tucano/ Super Tucano is the second most successful basic trainer in terms of numbers delivered none have been sold

| ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW |

to Asia-Pacific air arms. Number three in the basic trainer league is the Korea Aerospace Industries (KIA) KAI KT-1, 85 of which are operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF), and 14 by the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara, TNI–AU).

The most numerous advanced jet trainer in service in the Asia-Pacific regions remains the BAE Systems Hawk with more than 100 extant. The RMAF and TNIAU continue to operate small numbers of 100 Series aircraft, the RAAF is upgrading its 33 Hawk Mk.127s to RAF Hawk T.2 standard under project Air 5438 Phase 1.

The IAF has a fleet of 99 Hawk Mk.132s most of which were assembled by HAL. An additional 24 upgraded aircraft with a new dual-redundant mission computer and an embedded virtual training system, are being delivered by HAL called the Hawk-i.

In the basic jet trainer sector, the People’s Republic of China has made inroads to the region with sales of its Hongdu Aviation Industries Group (HAIC) K-8 Karakoram co-developed with Pakistan. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has some 200 JL-8 trainers in service, which are powered by a single 3,792 lb thrust (16.87 kN) Ukrainian Ivchenko Progress AI25TLK turbofan. The Pakistan-built K-8P, examples of which have been delivered to the Sri Lankan Air Force and the Myanmar Air Force (MAF), have the 3,600 lb thrust (16.01 kN) Honeywell TFE731-2A-2A turbofan the Lucas Aerospace FADEC. A total of 12 K-8s were delivered to the MAF in 1999 and an additional 60 were ordered in 2010 to be supplied as completely knocked down (CKD) kits for the assembly by MAF technicians.

However, none of these have been delivered to date.

China is also breaking into the leadin fighter trainer (LIFT) market with the supersonic HAIC L-15A Falcon that first flew in 2006. The two-seat, twinengine L-15 features the latest advanced technologies developed by China, such as a three-axis quadruple-redundancy fly-by-wire flight (FBW) control system and an advanced avionics system based on flexible data bus technology, a glass cockpit with two multi-colour head down displays for both the front and rear cockpit, and an additional head-up display (HUD) for the front cockpit, and hands-onthrottle-and-stick (HOTAS) flight control.

The aircraft features two zero/zero (zero altitude, zero speed) ejection seats

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in tandem, a single vertical fin, fully movable stabilizer, tricycle landing gear, and one-piece canopy and blended wing-fuselage design. The aerodynamic performance of the aircraft is enhanced by its large leading edge root extensions (LERX) design, that gives a high angle of attack (AoA) of up to 30 degrees.

The L-15 LIFT variant entering service with the PLAAF as the JL-10, is powered by two Ukrainian 9,260 lb (41.1 kN) thrust Ivchenko-Progress afterburning AI-222K25F turbofans with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) built under licence by China's Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) Research Institute 608 as the WS15, giving it a maximum speed of Mach 1.4. The L-15 is also the first jet trainer to be fitted with a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) combat radar developed by Research Institute 607.

A light attack variant, the L-15B variant was launched earlier this year. It features a larger nose that houses indigenous PL12 PESA multi-function radar. Fitted with a radar warning receiver (RWR) and nine

under wing hard points that can carry a maximum payload of 7,716 lb (3,500 kg) including LT-2 laser-guided bombs and a centerline cannon pod.

The HAIC Falcon was designed in collaboration with the Russian Yakovlev Design Bureau which was responsible for the twinjet Yak-130 advanced jet trainer (AJT). Assigned the NATO reporting name, Mitten, the Yak-130 was designed in collaboration with Aermacchi of Italy in the 1990s. In April 2002 the Yak-130 was announced as the winner of the Russian Air Force’s advanced jet trainer competition to replace the Aero L-39.

Following a protracted development caused by funding issues rather that the aircraft’s performance, and state trials were completed in December 2009. In December 2011 the Russian MoD and the Irkut Corporation signed a contract to supply 55 Yak-130 AJTs to be delivered by 2015. An additional 30 aircraft were ordered in April 2016.

Aermacchi shared the design and production and modification rights for a westernised variant to be built in Italy

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with a marketing agreement that assigned NATO customers to Aermacchi, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to Yakovlev while the two variants would compete in the remaining markets.

With an all-swept mid-wing with swept tailplane and fin, the Yak-130 design features large leading edge root extensions (LERX) that were later adopted for the HAIC L-15. With the use of open architecture digital avionics compliant with a 1553 Databus, a full digital glass cockpit, four-channel digital fly-by-wire system (FBWS) and instructor controlled and variable FBWS handling characteristics and embedded simulation.

The type also has a head-up display (HUD) and a helmet-mounted-sightingsystem (HMSS), with a double GPS/ GLONASS receiver updating an inertial reference system (IRS) for highly accurate navigation and precision targeting.

Powered by two 5,512 lb (24.5 kN) thrust Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25 turbofans, the Yak-130 has a maximum speed of 1,060 km/h (648 mph) and a combat radius of 555 km (345 miles). A weapon load of up

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In service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is taking delivery of 49 Pilatus PC21s to replace its PC-9s.

to 6,600 lb (3,000 kg) consisting of various guided and un-guided weapons, auxiliary fuel tanks and electronics pods can be carried on nine hard points: In January 2014, Bangladesh ordered 24 Yak-130s to replace the Bangladesh Air Force’s (BAF) fleets of L-39s and FT6s as lead-in fighter trainers but the order was later reduced to 16 aircraft. The first batch was delivered in September 2015 since when one crashed during a training flight in July 2017. In March 2017, Mikhail Petukhov, deputy director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) confirmed that three Yak-130s, of twelve on order, had been delivered to the Myanmar Air Force (Tatmadaw Lei).

With more than 145 Yak-130s on order, the Russian manufacturer has eclipsed its erstwhile Italian partner Aermacchi, in the marketing of its westernised variant that later became the M-346 Master. Development of the aircraft was transferred to Italy in 1998 to prevent delays resulting from the economic situation in Russia with limited funding from the Italian Ministry of Industry. The first flight of the M-346 prototype took place in July 2004.

Retaining much of the Yak-130’s airframe design, considerable weight reduction was achieved by the increased use of composites, the M-346 had a redesigned landing gear with increased track, and a modified canopy for improved visibility. A more powerful flight control system was fitted, and new software for an expanded flight envelope to 8 g. The air intakes and exhaust were redesigned for the two 6,280 lb (27.9 kN) trust Honeywell F-124-GA-200 twinshaft turbofan engines with dual-channel

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FADEC that give the M-346 a maximum level speed of 590 knots (1,095 km/h).

Equipped with two Martin-Baker Mk.16D zero/zero ejection seats, and HOTAS controls, the M-346's glass cockpit is representative of the latest generation cockpit and is night vision goggle (NVG) compatible. It has three colour LCD multifunctional displays, a HUD and an optional helmet-mounted display.

A key feature of the M-346 is the embedded tactical training system (ETTS) that is capable of emulating various equipment, such as radar, targeting pods, weapons, and EW systems. Additionally, the ETTS can interface with various munitions and other equipment actually carried on the M-346’s nine hard points.

However, all this capability comes at a high price which may be responsible for the fact that only 59 M-346s have been ordered to date with the RSAF being the region’s only Master customer.

Another expensive AJT option is the supersonic Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle with a reported unit cost of $30 million. Originally designed

by Samsong Aerospace with assistance from Lockheed Martin as an offset for the F-16 Korean Fighter Programme as the KTX-2, it made its first flight in August 2002.

In December 2003 a contract was placed with KAI for the manufacture of 25 leadin fighter trainers (LIFT) to be delivered to the RoKAF in 2007. The RoKAF have a requirement for 94 T-50s, of which 82 had been ordered by 2008.

With mid-mounted variable camber wings with leading edge LERX, swept fin and tailplane, the T-50 is powered by a single 17,700 lb (78.7 kN) thrust with afterburning General electric F404-GE-102 turbofan equipped with FADEC, giving it

| Asian Military Review |

a maximum speed of Mach 1.3. With BAE Systems digital FBW flight controls with HOTAS, a BAE Systems wide-angle HUD, the cockpit has two MFD and Honeywell instrumentation displays that include, attitude indicator, electronic altimeter and Mach speed indicator.

Apart from in service with the RoKAF, 16 T-50i have been delivered to the TNI–AU, one of which crashed during an air display in December 2015. The Philippines Air Force (PAF) is taking delivery of 12 LIFT/light attack variant of the Golden Eagle, the F/A-50. Equipped with Elta EL/M-2032The R radar, the two-seat F/A-50 has an internal General Dynamics M197 20 mm three-barrel Gatling-type cannon and has seven hard points capable of carrying up to 10,500 lb (4,758 kg) of weapons.

In 2017 the Royal Thai Air Force (Kong Thap Akat Thai) selected the Golden Eagle to replace its fleet of 40 Aero L-39ZA/ART Albatros in the training and combat roles, with the first four of eight aircraft expected to be delivered by July 2018. The T-50TH will be fully combat capable, being fitted with fire control radar, a MIL-STD-1760 databus and will have provision for the Link 16 data link.

Lockheed Martin is competing in the US Air Force’s T-X competition to replace its fleet of 490 T-38A/C Talons, with a variant of the T-50A designated the TX-1 to be built in the United Sates. Should it win the competition it would be a considerable boost to its sales potential in the Asia-Pacific region.

Taiwan is planning to purchase a new AJT to replace 49 AIDC AT-3 basic jet trainers and 25 Northrop/AIDC F-5E/F fighters that have been acting as lead-in fighter trainers for decades in the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF). AIDC has proposed an AJT based on the two-seat AIDC Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF) called the XAT-5 Blue Magpie, equipped with reinforced landing gear, increased fuel capacity, a glass cockpit and the same Honeywell F125 turbofan engines.

In February 2017 a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the RoCAF and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) to develop the Blue Magpie.

The RoKAF has a requirement for 66 new AJTs for deliveries starting in 2023.

With Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam amongst others, with requirements for new basic and advanced trainers, the choice is wide open but as always, will be subject to funding. AMR

Major General

Ahmad Mahmood Hayat, HI(M) Director General DEPO

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nternational Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) is a mega regional event in South Asia; biennially organized by Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) in Pakistan. A continuous success story since 2000, IDEAS is now an established rendezvous for convergence of international defence exhibitors, delegations, security analysts and top level policy planners; enabling IDEAS to attain an iconic standing on the canvas of global defence exhibitions.

IDEAS is an ideal platform to showcase latest innovations in defence and technologies of future; with a variety of weapon systems and equipment on display. During the exhibition, defence and security outlook of the future is discussed through a series of conferences and a capstone seminar. It also brings together international manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to explore new avenues of defence cooperation through joint ventures, outsourcing and collaboration. In addition, the high profile of visiting delegates adds to its prestige and stature.

IDEAS truly demonstrates a successful public-private partnership model. Its participation and international attendance is a true reflection of our deeply embedded and mutually beneficial relations with international fraternity. In fact, IDEAS is a shared platform for global peace, stability and prosperity. IDEAS 2018, our 10th eventful edition is scheduled to be held at Expo Centre Karachi from 27- 30 November 2018.

I look forward to welcoming the distinguished participants.

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The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has replaced its old Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawks with modern MH-60R helicopters. The US Department’s Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) recently approved a $360 million, tenyear FMS upgrade for the RAN’s 24 strong MH-60R fleet.

KEEPING THEM FLYING AND EFFECTIVE New helicopters, to maintain effectiveness, need a planned upgrade path - something that the Royal Australian Navy is addressing early.

Older aircraft may swap owners, or get a new lease of life where none seemed to exist.

by Andrew Drwiega

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he Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has now found a helicopter in the Sikorsky MH-60 Romeo that it is not only happy with, but wishes to ensure the capability is kept in step with the US Navy and is therefore taking measures for the fleet to be continually upgraded over the next decade.

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On 31 August the US State Department’s Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the confirmation of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) upgrade programme for the RAN’s 24 MH60Rs at an estimated cost of $360 million.

The RAN’s 725 Squadron based at HMAS Albatross, Nowra, New South

| ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW |

Wales, is the training unit flying eleven of the MH-60Rs, while operational flying is the responsibility of 816 Squadron whose 17 aircraft primarily operate from the RAN’s Adelaide and Anzac class frigates in the anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare (ASW/ASuW) role. The helicopter’s weapons systems include Raytheon

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Vector Aerosapace

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The UK Ministry of Defence may have retired its Sea Kings, but the Pakistan Navy saw an opportunity to acquire seven of those helicopters, putting them throught the experienced hands of Vector Aerospace to bring them back to flying status.

Mk.54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo and Lockheed-Martin AGM-114N Hellfire airto-ground missile.

The Australian Government acquired the MH-60R under the $2.34 billion Air 9000 Phase 8 programme with the intent that it be as close to US Navy MH-60Rs as such an FMS contract would allow. Aircrew and maintainers were sent to the US Navy training base, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in Florida for their conversion to type training. The RAN had operated the older Sikorsky S-70B-2 until its newer replacement arrived.

The wide ranging upgrades cover operational capability as well as any advances made to the training regime. This includes Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) for both the aircraft and associated training devices, classified software upgrades for Joint Mission Planning Systems (JMPS/MDLs), engineering and technical assistance (ETA/LTA) as well as other supply and logistical support.

Kings will be returned to flight status, with the others being stripped down for parts. The work was the responsibility of Vector’s UK-based Aviation Services team, which knows the aircraft very well having previously provided depth maintenance and repair for the UK’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Sea King fleets.

Talking about the opportunity presented to Vector to once again provide MRO services to three of the Sea Kings that have visited Fleetlands over the years, Owen McClave, managing director for Vector Aerospace UK, said: “Vector has a long history of supporting the Sea King fleet, and we are delighted that this significant programme to refurbish these aircraft for return to service has now started. We are very proud of the responsive maintenance

Old to New - Part One The exit from service of the UK’s Sea King fleet in 2016 brought an immediate benefit to the Pakistan Navy through the quick acquisition of seven of iconic aircraft. Following a formal handover ceremony on 24 May by the UK MoD’s Disposal Services Authority (DSA) to the Pakistan Navy at Fleetlands in Gosport, attended by the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Syed Ibne Abbas, and Bob Richardson from the DSA, the helicopters were received by the international maintenance specialist Vector Aerospace (UK).

Only three of the (ex-Westland) Sea

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No sunset yet for the S-61 Nuri.

A Royal Malaysian Air Force S-61A-4 Nuri utility helicopter leads the way during a joint search and rescue exercise a few years ago. The S-61 Nuris are being given a new lease of life thanks to a modernisation conducted by Airod in Malaysia.

| ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW |

support provided by our skilled associates here at Fleetlands, and we look forward to seeing these aircraft back in service with their new owner later in the year.”

Old to New - Part Two Exhibiting a thirst for even greater longevity, it can be safely said that there aren’t many military helicopter fleets older than the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAFs) Sikorsky S-61 Nuris that are still flying. However, following the successful upgrade of one of its number the RMAF fleet may now be open to an upgrade that could extend the out-of-service date of some, if not all Nuris to the mid-2020s.

The first of 10 initial Sikorsky S-61s, designated Nuri by the RMAF, arrived into Malaysia during late 1967. Since then the whole fleet of around 26 helicopters has flown many thousands of hours to the point where the aircraft have been scheduled to go out-of-service on several occasions. Most are operated by the RMAF but around 11 were transferred to the Malaysian Army. A new type was even sought in 2008 although financially the government was not able to acquire a brand new type of helicopter to take over, so the Nuris remained in service.

The S-61s are divided between two squadrons, No. 3 Squadron at Butterworth Air Force Base (AFB) in western Malaysia and No. 7 Squadron at Kuching AFB in the east of the country. The helicopter fleet’s main roles have been military transport as well as search and rescue.

However, now it seems that the outof-service date could be pushed back again and the aircraft handed a new lease of life by Malaysian aviation company U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers

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The Airbus H225M has been acquired by the Thai Armed Forces, and a new contract with Safran will guarantee engine support and aircraft availability.

Airod. The upgrade to the first Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri focused on transforming the analogue avionics into a digital glass cockpit which would include a new moving map. To achieve this, AIROD ‘s conducted the work at its Subang, Selangor, facility with technology transfer being made possible through its technical partner Heli-One of Norway.

The first aircraft was handed over by Airod Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Major General (Rtd) Datuk Ibrahim Bahari to RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Affendi Buang in March at the Langkawi airshow.

The RMAF have given Airod a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the work completed on the first Nuri upgrade which, reports state, took less than a year to complete.

A ceremony was staged on 17 September to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the S-61 Nuri with the RMAF. It was attended by Malaysian Chief of Air Force, General Tan Sri Dato Sri Hj Affendi bin Buang, together with a variety of RMAF helicopter crew members.

“We are honoured to celebrate the golden anniversary of the S-61 Nuri with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, and commemorate 50 years of continuous service of the

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well-established and proven platform in a variety of roles,” said Christophe Nurit, regional executive for Sikorsky in Asia.

At the end of 2016,the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) revealed that it was increasing its fleet of Airbus H225M Caracal’s (ex EC725s) with an order for an additional two helicopters. The twin-engine, 11-ton H225Ms are operated by several air forces in the region including the RMAF and Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara, or TNI–AU).

The four Airbus M225s delivered to date have got a variety of features including electro-optical sensor, fast roping and search light applicable for a variety of role from general combat search and rescue through to civil rescue and ordinary troop transportation. Airbus state that two Caracal’s from the first order are still to be delivered by the end of the year, which will eventually make a fleet of eight aircraft when the final two are delivered in 2019.

Philippe Monteux, head of Airbus’ Southeast Asia and Pacific region said that the contract “marks the great confidence the RTAF has placed in the EC725 and its proven capabilities to fulfil its most challenging missions.”

| Asian Military Review |

During the summer, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Safran Helicopter Engines and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) to support helicopter engines operated by the Thai armed forces,.

The MoU, signed on 20 June, is an extension of an earlier global support agreement and means that Safran will support the Makila-powered H225M Caracal and Arriel-powered fleet of H125M, H145M, AS365 N3+ and H155 helicopters that are used by both the RTAF and other military and government users.

According to a statement from Safran, “the agreement will deliver guaranteed engine availability, including engine line maintenance, depot repair, inventory management and technical support expertise.” This will principally be delivered

by TAI backed by Safran support.

Other upgrade related military helicopter news this year included an announcement by Elbit Systems that it had won a $110 million contract from an undisclosed country within the Asia-Pacific region that would see it maintain and upgrade ‘dozens’ of Mi-17 helicopters over a five-year period. No details of the contract or the customer were revealed. AMR

by Andrew Drwiega

Thales

Ballistic missile tracking has been a feature of recent multi-national exercises, while the Royal Air Force received its third Rivet Joint RC-135. Meanwhile a new longer endurance and future ready satellite is available for launch.

Thales’ SMART-L EWC Multi Mission (MM) radar system in the Netherlands detected and tracked a ballistic missile launched from Scotland for over 1,500km as part of exercise Formidable Shield 2017.

Radar

On 25 September, Thales tested its tower based SMART-L EWC Multi Mission (MM) radar system during exercise Formidable Shield 2017 (24 September to 18 October), detecting a ballistic missile launched from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides range located on the Western Isles of Scotland.

The SMART-L is sited on a test tower at Thales’ Hengelo facility in the Netherlands. Thales reported that the ballistic missile was detected and tracked at a range of over 1,500km.

Led by the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet, Formidable Shield was an international ballistic missile defence exercise held in order ‘to improve allied interoperability in a live-fire integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) environment, using NATO command and control reporting structures.’ Participating nations included Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

According to a company statement, ‘the system maintained a stable track for more than 300 seconds. The track quality was sufficient to enable Launch On Remote (LOR) by ballistic missile defence-capable warships.

Gerben Edelijn, CEO of Thales in the Netherlands commented

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that the SMART-L MM “can provide armed forces all over the world with a powerful sensor that enables the protection of nation states against the increasing threat of ballistic missiles.”

Another successful missile flight track test was achieved in September when Raytheon’s AN/SPY-6(V) air and missile defence radar acquired and tracked multiple threatrepresentative targets simultaneously during its third dedicated flight test at the US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, in Kauai, Hawaii.

The AN/SPY-6(V) detected and tracked a short-range ballistic missile target and multiple anti-ship cruise missile targets from launch throughout their flights.

“The speed, range, trajectory and complexity of multiple targets proved no match for AN/SPY-6,” said Raytheon’s Tad Dickenson, AN/SPY-6(V) programme director.

According to US Navy Captain Seiko Okano, major programme manager, Above Water Sensors, Programme Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems, the radar was “specifically designed to handle ballistic missiles and cruise missiles simultaneously.

| Asian Military Review |

UK MOD The third and final RC135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft was delivered by L3 Technologies to the UK’s Royal Air Force as part of the Airseeker programme.

Raytheon reported that over the tests, the AN/SPY-6(V) had performed successfully against single and multiple live targets “including integrated air and missile defence targets of opportunity, satellites and aircraft.”

Meanwhile NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) based in Luxembourg has contracted Swedish defence company Saab to upgrade three SINDRE I air surveillance radars in Norway. The work will involve replacing obsolete hardware as well as upgrading software and will be conducted between 2017 and 2020.

Saab Technologies will be responsible for the work together with Saab Defense and Security in Syracuse, New York, USA. ”Saab’s radar upgrading approach is a proven and effective way to extend the service life of existing air surveillance radars,” said Tore Bekkevold, managing director, Saab Norway.

Electronic warfare

The UK’s Royal Air Force has received its third and last RC135V/W Rivet Joint (RJ) signals intelligence aircraft from L3 Technologies under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement valued at $1 billion. The three aircraft form 51 Squadron based at RAF Waddington together with other ISTAR assets.

Under the Airseeker programme, the RJ intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft were converted

by L3 from KC-135R tankers to the RC-135W configuration.

The aircraft have been delivered every two years since the first arrived in the UK in 2013.

The combined US Air Force / RAF fleet is 20 aircraft, with L3 providing baseline upgrades and depot maintenance. The precise capability of the systems onboard the RJ aircraft is secret but its

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sensors and antennae reveal it detects signals and transmissions, identifies frequencies being used as well as mobile radars and communications relay sites. i “This partnership has provided our UK allies with an intelligence-gathering platform that supports near-real-time on-scene collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, L3’s president and chief operating officer. Analysts describe the defence cooperation over Airseeker as “the highest level of intelligence cooperation between the two countries since World War II,” according to Mark Von Schwarz, L3’s senior VP, Aerospace Systems.

Tactical radios

On 2 October, Harris Corporation announced that it had received a $260 million order from an undisclosed Asia-Pacific nation to develop an integrated tactical communications network as part of that country’s modernisation program. The order was received in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

This integrated network order will include tactical radios, network planning, monitoring and routing software as well as ancillary systems. Harris revealed that this would include its Falcon III AN/PRC-158 multi-channel manpack radios, vehicle amplifiers and would provide voice and data for LOS and BLOS needs.

In a separate announcement, Harris has also been awarded a five year, $765 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to supply the US Navy (USN) and US Marine Corps (USMC) with tactical radios and ancillary equipment.

This replaces a $300 million contract that expired in August.

The radios within the contract include the Harris AN/PRC117G, AN/PRC-152A and the new AN/PRC-160 wideband

| Asian Military Review |

Harris The Harris AN/ PRC-160(V) (formerly RF-300H) is a standalone radio for Beyond-LineOf-Sight (BLOS) communications in the absence of satellite communications.

HF/VHF radio, as well as peripheral attachments to support handheld, manpack, vehicle and base station requirements.

Cooperation between Barrett Communications and Thales Australia has led to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) now using ten reconditioned Bushmaster armoured troop carrying vehicles fitted with Barrett PRC-2090 HF mobile systems and PRC-2080+ VHF mobile systems.

The Barrett HF and VHF system and the Thales SOTAS Intercom system allows both long range HF and line-of-sight VHF communications through the headset of an operator in each vehicle. The system also provides for intra-vehicle communications, such as during a convoy mission.

Said Barrett Communications managing director, Greg O’Neill: “The way the tactical communications market is evolving means our products need to be interoperable with other systems.”

The RFMF has already deployed seven of the vehicles as part of its United Nations peacekeeping mission to the Middle East.

The remaining three are used in Fiji to train operators.

On 10 October Turkish defence contractor Aselsan revealed a contract with the Ukrainian State foreign trade enterprise SpetsTechnoExport. Aselsan will supply military radios with software defined architecture, multiple waveforms and electronic protection measures against electronic warfare threats.

This is believed to meet the Ukrainian government’s tender for new radios that was initiated in 2016. It has been reported that the contract would be for up to 600 VHF systems.

Aselsan’s product line includes a V/UHF Software Defined Radio (SDR) family designed within 30-512 MHz band to support land, marine and air platform applications. The company states that its Software Defined Networking Radios (SDNR’s) “are designed to provide public safety and air-to-ground-to-air communications capability as well as tactical communications under severe electronic warfare threats.”

SATCOM

In the satellite communications field, on 9 October L3

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Technologies announced that it would be providing the US Air National Guard’s Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) teams with Hawkeye III Lite VSAT satellite communications terminals, together with training.

Called Army Strategic Command (ARSTRAT)-certified terminals, they will not only provide direct communications to the Guard from remote locations within the US, but provide access to the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) network of military satellites.

Details of the contract show that the Guard will receive 46 Hawkeye III Lite 1.2-meter tri-band VSATs in the fourth quarter of 2017. The JISCC delivers military Command and Control (C2) and National Incident Management System-compatible data information to Guard units.

Following that, Lockheed Martin’s new military Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellite (SV01) is now ‘available for launch’ according to the US Air Force (USAF). This is expected to take place in 2018.

GPS III represents a new satellite design and has a host of new and improved capabilities. These include: three times better accuracy than current GPS II satellites; a stated eight fold increase in anti-jamming capability; strong design giving an operational life of around 15 years; and the ability to broadcast the L1C common signal being used by other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Galileo, for civilian use.

The satellite has a modular design which Mark Stewart, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Navigation Systems says will allow the insertion of new technology into the production line when it becomes available.

The first ten GPS III satellites are now being produced at Lockheed Martin’s processing facility near Denver, Colorado.

The GPS III team is led by the Global Positioning Systems Directorate at the USAF’s Space and Missile Systems centre. Air Force Space Command’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users. AMR

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The Doklam Plateau area is a strategically important area and potentially exposes the vulnerability of India’s Siliguri Corridor that links the northwest of the country to the rest of India.

International, told Asian Military Review.

Mr. Darling added that India has become alarmed by China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) initiative, which includes the development of a road linking China to Pakistan, which unnerves the Indian Government in New Delhi. Pakistan is also one of the largest recipients of Chinese technology, further demon-strating the strength of the relationship between the two nations.

FACE-OFF, STEP BACK While the mini-crisis between India and China over a road-building programme in a controversial area claimed by Bhutan has been averted (for now), China continues to push its tactics for territorial and maritime influence.

by Beth Stevenson

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n 16 June 2017, China (People’s Republic of China) began moving troops into the Doklam/Donglang plateau, an area located between Tibet's Chumbi Valley to the north, Bhutan's Ha Valley to the east and India's Sikkim state to the west. The reason for the incident was founded in China’s desire to further extend an existing road in Tibet southward. A military face-off between Indian and Chinese troops ensued.

While seemingly low key in terms of military action, the area into which Chinese troops were planning to extend is a plateau disputed by China and Bhutan, which caused the latter’s ally India to intervene on its behalf, starting a standoff between the two larger nations.

Bhutan and India’s alliance is one that runs deep, with the latter guiding the former’s diplomatic and defence affairs from 1949 to 2007, at which point the existing treaty was replaced with a friendship treaty that softened the requirements of the old agreement.

To this end, India acted on behalf of Bhutan throughout the stand-off in 2017,

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deploying troops, weapons and bulldozers to the plateau in order to counter Chinese troops with construction equipment that had located themselves in the area.

Tension between China and India is not new, with previous conflicts occurring over border areas, given that they touch at several strategic points. Disagreements between the two have been underway for some 100 years.

In 1962 a border war occurred between the two countries over disputes relating to the McMahon Line. a border established between India and Tibet through the Simla Accord initiated by the United Kingdom in 1914, which was rejected by China.

In addition to the disputed McMahon Line, another area, Aksai Chin, is considered by India to be part of the Jammu and Kashmir state, but China administers it through its Xinjiang autonomous region.

“In general, relations between China and India are [both] pragmatic (as seen in the trade volume between the two countries) and tense,” Daniel Darling, senior military markets analyst for Europe and the Asia-Pacific Rim at Forecast

| Asian Military Review |

Clarification statement A statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on 30 June claimed that a People’s Liberation Army construction party entered the Doklam area on 16 June to construct a road, at which point it is understood that a Royal Bhutan Army patrol attempted to “dissuade them from this unilateral activity”.

Furthermore, the foreign ministry of Bhutan also issued a statement claiming that the road construction is a direct violation of both 1988 and 1998 agreements between Bhutan and China.

“India is deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese Government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implica-tions for India,” its ministry statement noted.

“In this context, the Indian side has underlined that the two governments had in 2012 reached agreement that the tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries will be finalised in consultation with the concerned countries.

“Any attempt, therefore, to unilaterally determine tri-junction points is in violation of this understanding,” the statement stressed.

Soldiers from both sides eventually stood down on 28 August, but the disagreement is representative of existing tensions between the two countries, who still dispute a number of bordering territories.

The Ministry of External Affairs claimed that India has “consistently taken a positive approach to the settlement of its own boundary with China”, as well as with the related issue of tri-junctions within the region.

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is a strategic vulnerability due to its narrowness and for the rail and road links that it provides. It is used for transiting troops, military equipment and supplies to the units in the north of the country, troops that would be utilised first if another conflict arose between India and China.

Chinese strategy The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, receives Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat during a goodwill visit to Bhutan from 27 to 30 April. Gen. Bipin assured the King that the Indian Army would continue with its special relationship with the Royal Bhutan Army, something that was soon called up at the border.

“India cherishes peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas,” it noted.

“It has not come easily. Both sides have worked hard to establish institutional framework to discuss all issues to ensure peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas.

“India is committed to working with China to find peaceful resolution of all issues in the border areas through dialogue.”

Leaders of China and India – Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, respectively – met at a the 9th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit in Xiamen, China in early September, after which it was reported that they had agreed to concentrate on bolstering bilateral ties.

“China and India should see each other as development opportunities rather than threats,” Xi said, adding that “peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the only right choice for the two countries,” according to reports from Chinese government-controlled news outlet, Xinhua.

Both nations agreed that there should not be rivalry in Sino-Indian relations, rather there should be cooperation and stable ties, the agency added.

Nevertheless, Xinhua reiterated that the Donglang/Doklam area was Chinese territory, claiming that Indian troops were obstructing the construction of the

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extension. It added that following the 28 August withdrawal, Chinese forces would bolster patrols and defence in the area “to resolutely safeguard sovereign security”.

In terms of the outcome, India managed the situation “both firmly and deftly on the diplomatic side of things”, which resulted in a halting of the building work for now, Darling noted.

Although relations are once again civil from an outside standpoint, tension between the nations remains.

One issue that is particularly sensitive for India is the Siliguri Corridor – or Chicken’s Neck – which is a narrow belt of land that connects the northwestern India to the main body of the country to the south. It is pinched by Bangladesh to the south and Nepal to the north-west.

With Chinese territory directly north of the corridor, hypothetically, the northwestern part of India and Bhutan would be vulnerable if China made an advance into the area, which could cut them off from the rest of India, and from access to the sea, something that happened during the 1962 dispute.

“I don't think it is a matter of who is the most diplomatic, per se, but who has the most to lose. India does not wish to see further (or any) encroachment by China towards what is perceived by New Delhi as a sensitive – indeed critical – strategic chokepoint,” Mr. Darling said.

He noted that for India the corridor

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Mr. Darling offered insight into the thought process behind China’s determination to build the road, suggesting three gains it hoped to achieve.

Firstly, it wanted to further its territorial claims against Bhutan in a fashion typical of China, which includes creating infrastructure and logistical networks – roadways, railways, military camps and refuelling stations – “thereby rendering the situation a fait accompli through overwhelming presence on the ground”, Darling said.

“This, it should be noted, is how Beijing has pressed its claims in the South China Sea, only with ships instead of ground troops and land-reclamation instead of roadways. It seeks to shift a de jure dispute into a de facto reality, meaning one side can lay claim to territory, but another side dictates the actual terms on the ground.”

The actions of China would additionally apply pressure to the Siliguri Corridor, which India is wary would be a weakness if there was a war between the two countries, given that Beijing would be likely to annex off the northern part of India isolating troops based in the Sikkim area that borders China.

Thirdly, in more practical terms, physically shifting the junction where the three nations – Bhutan, China and India – meet from the plateau to Gamochen/ Mt Gipmochi, which is the start of the Jampheri Ridge, would allow China to protect the Chumbi Valley, its own territory that is equally vulnerable to any po-tential strike from India.

“This land route signals an attempt by Beijing to circumvent a crucial Chinese vulnerability, one that India might exploit in the event of another outbreak of hostilities between the two nations: China's lack of, and thus requirement for, secure shipping lanes that ensure its vital energy supplies from the Middle East are not disrupted,” he said.

Mr. Darling noted that a withdrawal

by Indian forces is likely to stick, subject to China not continuing the road-extension in the plateau.

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The runway serving the new Indian Naval Station (INS) Baaz, on the Nicobar Islands chain. was recently commissioned in July 2012 as the IN expands its operational footprint. This allows the Indian Navy (IN) to overwatch the Malacca Straits.

“That is a red line for India, which already has two nuclear-armed rivals perched on both its flanks (Pakistan, naturally, being the other),” he added.

“Thus, a return to the status quo of before is what India sought and what it has achieved through firmness and diplomatic patience.”

It is expected that both nations will continue to base forces in the area, which typically includes light artillery, antiaircraft and anti-tank weaponry, and mortars.

“India has a much larger manpower presence in the areas of dispute with China, but China is – by many estimates – better capable of manoeuvring its forces and supporting them in the event of conflict as well as bringing greater immediate firepower to bear,” Mr. Darling added.

Both nations have gains to be made from being regional powers, and presence in the Indian Ocean is key to that. In 2016, China had the second largest military expenditure in the world behind the United States (US) and the largest in the Asia-Pacific according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

India was ranked joint fifth with France.

China’s share of the global budget is 13 percent, while India’s is 3.3 percent.

China’s ambition to protect its wider international commercial interests is reflected in its programme of port development and construction witnessed in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, Djibouti and Tanzania. A positive relationship with nations adjacent to the Indian Ocean has been a target of Beijing,

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according to Mr. Darling.

Its well publicised expansion through island building in the South China Sea has likewise served to raise tension in that region.

China’s defence budget of $151 billion for 2017 is helping to underline it as a modernising military power is of strategic importance.

However, while exact numbers are rarely released by Beijing, Xinhua reported in March that the 2017 defence budget for the nation had risen by 7 percent, marking the slowest increase in six years and the first single digit rise since 2010.

“China’s military capacity building will be continued,” Fu Ying, spokesperson for the 12th National People’s Congress annual session, told a press conference on 4 March this year. “This is the requirement for safeguarding our national sovereignty and security.”

Major General Chen Zhou, head of the Research Centre for Defense Policies at the PLA Academy of Military Science, added that China’s defence budget increase is “reasonable and moderate”, Xinhua said, against the backdrop of "profound changes in China's overall strength, its security environment and the world's strategic situation".

Indian defence India’s 2017 defence budget is $53.5 billion, the India-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses revealed, which is a rise of 7 percent on the previous year.

The Indian Navy is one of the largest

| Asian Military Review |

in the world, with around 200 ships in service and is targeting an ability to operate a number of carrier battle groups by the mid-2020s.

“India also aims to expand its militarybasing infrastructure and maintenance capabilities in its Andaman and Nicobar Islands archipelago, located 1,200km off the country's coast, thus enabling its military to rapidly respond to Chinese naval forays near these strategically located offshore territories,” Mr. Darling said in 2016. “This dual naval build-up has become worrisome for those with vested interests in the greater Indian Ocean.”

Furthermore, the US presence in the region could serve to alter the balance.

India is more aligned with the US than China, particularly strategically. But due to India’s diplomatic ‘soft-hands’ approach as recently witnessed, more serious disputes seem unlikely at present.

Additionally, although China is evidently keeping of focus on its defence investments, it is heavily reliant on its own developments, which is not the case for India.

China is responsible for manufacturing much of the military equipment it uses, and is eager to increase its share of the export market. India on the other hand, while it has the best intentions to become a defence equipment powerhouse in years to come, heavily relies on sophisticated technology imports to equip its forces.

It also continues to demonstrated very slow decision making in indigenous manufacturing and military procurement.

India is also targeting the transfer of intellectual property (IP) rights into the country by mandating that countries that want to sell it equipment must also carry out manufacturing in India to bolster the defence industry.

Unresolved issue In terms of tensions in this part of the world, North Korea has been holding the world’s attention and territorial disputes evident between India and China are not the most concerning to either of the nations involved, or to neighbouring countries.

However, the core issues remain unresolved which may again lead to more face-offs, or worse. Rhetoric from both nations, albeit relatively passive and not particularly threatening remains, and with reputations and their position on the world stage at stake, there is more to be lost than just physical territory. AMR

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